59 named cultivars

shrub

Butterfly Bush

$76.59

The Story

Plant Bio

Buddleia davidii, or butterfly bush, is a fast, arching deciduous shrub from China and Japan, reaching six to twelve feet where it is left unpruned. Long tapering panicles of small lilac to purple flowers, each with an orange throat, open from June through September and carry a honeyed scent. The narrow grey-green leaves are pale and felted underneath.

It self-seeds freely and is listed as a noxious weed in Oregon and a problem plant in several other states, spreading into riverbanks and cleared ground. Plant a seedless or low-fertility cultivar where that applies, and deadhead spent panicles before they set seed. Doing so also keeps the shrub flowering harder into autumn.

Uses & Benefits:

Long lilac-to-purple panicles carry the border from midsummer into autumn, when few shrubs are still flowering.

Fast, drought-tolerant cover for a hot, poor, free-draining site where little else establishes quickly.

A heavy nectar source for butterflies and hummingbirds, though it feeds adults only and hosts no native caterpillars.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Shrub

Height

108"

Width

96"

Light

Full Sun

Zones

5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Water

Medium

Humidity

Average

Lifespan

Perennial

Native To

China and Japan

Toxicity

Low toxicity; can cause stomach upset if ingested.

Marketplace

Where to Buy

Nature Hills

In Stock$76.59

Shipping costs Year-round shipping Free shipping

Planting

How to Grow

Plant in spring in full sun and free-draining soil.
Space at least six feet apart; this shrub fills its allowance quickly.
Water through the first summer, then only in drought.
Cut the whole plant back hard to a low framework each spring.
Deadhead spent flower spikes through summer to limit seeding.
Leave the top growth over winter in cold areas as frost protection.

Pro Tip

It flowers on new wood, so a hard spring cutback costs no bloom and buys a denser, better-proportioned shrub.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Give it full sun for the heaviest flowering ☀️
Prune hard in early spring before growth starts ✂️
Deadhead spent spikes to limit self-seeding 🌸
Plant it where butterflies and hummingbirds can find it 🦋

Don't

Let seed heads ripen and scatter near open ground ❌
Plant it in wet or poorly drained soil ❌
Skip the spring prune and accept a leggy, bare-based shrub ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Deadhead
Prune

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Butterfly and pollinator borderFast informal screen on a dry, sunny siteBack-of-border shrub for summer colour

Companion Plants

Russian Sage Coneflower Black-Eyed Susan Catmint Yarrow

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Butterfly Bush questions

What zones can Butterfly Bush grow in?

Butterfly Bush is hardy in USDA Zones 5–9. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Butterfly Bush deer resistant?

Yes — Butterfly Bush is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

When does Butterfly Bush bloom?

Butterfly Bush typically blooms in early summer to early fall through late summer. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Butterfly Bush need full sun?

Butterfly Bush does best in full sun (6+ hours).

Is Butterfly Bush drought tolerant?

Yes — once established (usually after the first full season), Butterfly Bush handles dry spells with minimal watering. Water deeply its first year to build the root system that makes that possible.